1. You have no idea what Retinol is.

​Retinol is actually one of the forms of Vitamin A. When converted to retinoic acid, it is essential for skin health, teeth remineralisation and bone growth. Of the wide range of skin care products, Retinoids can unclog pores, boost collagen to reduce fine lines, and speed cell turnover to gradually smoothen the skin – sometimes as fast as within a month! Retinoid was first used about a few decades ago after approval by FDA. Dermatologists soon noticed that patients on retinoid treatment experienced clears but also brighter skin with less wrinkles.​

​2. You prefer not to visit a dermatologist.

​ It is true that prescription formulas give the most impressive results. Notwithstanding, products such as Wellaholic's W+ Rejuvenating Night Cream and W+ Flawless Face Serum, contain retinyl palmitate which helps to improve lines and disclolouration. Retinyl palmitate is considered a gentler ingredient compared to retinol, and very few warnings of irritation exists. Count on about 12 weeks before seeing results. Patience is key.​

​3. You are afraid of your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight.

While retinol is sensitive to sunlight, and it is best to apply retinyl palmitate just before going to bed, a retinoid should not make your skin any more vulnerable to UV rays that it would be after buffing away dead skin with a face scrub. Of course, apply sunscreen as you always should, and if you are looking for a good one, do consider our W+ Protective Day Cream with SPF 50++.

Wellaholic W+ Flawless Face Serum with Retinyl Palmitate

​A retinoid should not make your skin any more vulnerable to UV rays.

​4. You forget the rest of the other steps.

Make sure that the rest of your skincare routine is soothing and gentle. Use a gentle cleanser, and a hydrating toner (such as our W+ Tightening Toner, which contains Azeloglicinia®, Salicylic Acid Complex, Aloe Vera Extract and Hyaluronic Acid that clears and control sebum while hydrating the skin), a day dream with SPF 50++ during the day, and add on a face serum in the evening and a night cream before going to bed.​

​5. You worry that you skin will initially look worse before it gets better.

While retinoids might cause dryness or redness, you can help by easing in. Try applying it every other night to allow your skin to adjust to the effects of the retinoid. It is exactly why Wellaholic uses retinyl palmitate instead of retinol, as retinyl palmitate is relatively gentler and does the same effects and retinol (i.e. breaking down into retinoic acid) but without the irritation.​

Hence you will realise that while there is a wide range of retinoids in the market, they all work the same, i.e. they require retinoids to break down to retinoic acid to do the work. At Wellaholic, we believe in a two-step treatment. Step 1 is the application of the face serum. Face Serums leave out occlusive, or airtight, moisturising ingredients that keep water from evaporating. Serums are made of very small molecules, so the skin absorbs them quickly and deeply. As most of the fluid is eliminated, what you are left with is a high concentration of active ingredients. However, this leaves the face dry and in need of hydration. This is also why we have recommended Step 2, which is the application of a Night Cream before going to bed. The night cream also contains retinyl palmitate as well as moisturising ingredients so as to keep your face moist and hydrated throughout the night while letting the retinoid do its magic.

​7. You are not maximising your IPL or Elight treatments.

​​Retinoids actually work very well with IPL and Elight treatments. While Elight treatments help boost the skins’ collagen beneath the skin’s surface, retinoids will help the exfoliating process, working in tandem with the Elight treatment for a more radiant skin with less lines and spots. A 2006 study (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17177 749) investigated the combined use of IPL and a retinyl-based cream and discovered an improvement in skin smoothness and the skin ultrasounds confirmed an increase in the deposition of collagen. During an 8-month follow-up, 67% responded having the same or improved results.

For the time you have taken to read this blog post of mine, you would have taken more than a minute. The minute was what it took to attempt ten times of the ab roller. All it takes is just a minute, but it is so so hard.

I have to admit. I have left the trusty ab roller aside for a couple of weeks now, right after I have completed the Ab Roller challenge. The ab roller was cast together with the toys of my cats. The ab roller lies in plain view to me every day. My attention was spent on other more urgent matters, and I always seem to have no time for this, or that. No time for gym. No time for a catch up with an old friend. No time to .... okay I always make time to brush Tigger and Yuki, and I always make time to feed BC. And water the plants. But somethings' gotta give. And som things' gotta go.

Hence, this morning, I made a resolve to go back to the ab roller. No excuses. If not now, when? ​

After the Spartan Training at Penhas, the rest left, while a few of us stayed back to clean up. We swept the floor, mopped away the perspiration, and then cleared the rubbish. While we could grabbed a quick bite nearby, I wanted to do a quick recce of The Great Escape as a potential event venue. We drove over to the Golden Mile Complex, got a little lost and ended up at Rex Theatre. I queried the cashier and he beckoned to us to head towards level 5. At The Projector, we tried to find the route to The Great Escape and ended up at the restroom instead lol, but soon we found ourselves at the outdoor bar.

Unfortunately, there was a company event going on, which meant that we could not have our dinner there. The outdoor area had several puddles of water formed from the heavy downpour, but all in all it sported a great indie vibe, and was helped by the vintage Volkswagen Van which was used as a drinks serving area.

We then decided to find a place to have a quick dinner. I had my early dinner prior to the training session, hence kept the guys company as they found a Heng Hwa Lor Mee place at the basement level (rare!).
​

What a way to end Sunday by doing what everyone is doing... the mannequin challenge!It was meant to be a dry run for an actual shoot next week, with a bigger Wellaholic team, but with the love and support of today's team as well as the participants of Body Beat, we got this video shot within... like 15 minutes and in just ONE SINGLE TAKE!All in all, we had great fun, and that's synonymous with Wellaholic. Live the Change!Youtube at https://youtu.be/3cQFr6Nvrps​Music by Approaching Nirvanahttp://youtube.com/user/approachingnirvanaSong: ConstellationBuy the song on iTunes: http://apple.co/1JXFGVd

​Wellness Marketplace on this Sunday presented Body Beats #2, where we revised last week's fast-paced routine and then learned a new routine, to the popular beats of The Chainsmoker's Closer. The session took slightly longer than the allocated hour and literally made most of us breathless!

Personally, I liked last week's track for its beats and movement, but I like the street-dance elements for this week's track. It was great that the instructors worked hard to get a new track and sequence ready for today's session and everyone had a great time!

Things that we learned at the Resveratrol Wednesday today:1. Asians are prone to be lactose intolerant
2. Take every process as an experience
3. Prostate cancer can happen suddenly without symptoms4. Piloxing is a fusion of standing pilates, boxing and dance
5. Bowlingual is a computer-based dog-to-human language translation device developed by Japanese toy company Takara
6. Every experience is an opportunity to grow
7. Resveratrol has anti-ageing benefits
8. If you buy grapes to eat, the darker the skin, the better
9. Do something that you can share proudly with your kids
10. Wellness is a topic close to everyone's hearts and we all view it in differently, but the approach is similar... wellness doesn't come without effort and sacrifices

Actually, it's more like dance like trying to remember the steps. Elin Aik, our instructor for the day, started us with some simple warm ups, and then it was a step-by-step memorization of the dance steps; how to move and what to do.

I wouldn't deem it easy at all. All of us were trying to remember the steps, and more often than not, we were aping the moves of Elin. However, while he was graceful and fluid, we were awkward and jerky, and even robotic. That did not stop me, as I tried to pair the moves with the music.

The 90 minutes ended very quickly, and I am certain that all of us are already looking forward to the next session!